Letter to the Editor

The president and members of Congress are considering many ways to reduce the national deficit. Unfortunately, among the proposals being discussed is one which is so detrimental to seniors on Social Security that it should ultimately be abandoned.

This proposal is entitled "chained CPI."

"Chained CPI" means a never-ending change in the Consumer Price Index (like the law of diminishing returns). It will severely affect the cost-of-living adjustment which people on Social Security depend upon to help pay for rising health care, groceries and utilities as they get older. It will also adversely affect retired federal employees who already suffer detrimental losses to their (Social Security Benefits) retirement due to GPO and WEP. Retired military, younger disabled veterans who get early benefits and women who have earned historically lower wages will be affected.

The president and members of Congress have come up with this abomination as one way of controlling the national deficit. It works like this: The government is ASSUMING that as the steaks you are currently buying get too expensive, you will buy something of lesser value. Taking this further, you might buy pork or poultry. The next year the chained CPI takes this into account and the COLA is further reduced. Then people will be buying cereal or canned tuna. The third year comes and the COLA is again reduced. After buying your weeks worth of cat or dog food, what will you be buying the fourth or fifth year out?

Isn't it amazing that our members of Congress and the president will still be buying their steaks?

Terry Frazier

Mesquite

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Letter to the Editor

The president and members of Congress are considering many ways to reduce the national deficit. Unfortunately, among the proposals being discussed is one which is so detrimental to seniors on Social